Bucket with lateral discharge

ABSTRACT

A bucket used in association with a loader provides both top and lateral discharge. The bucket is defined by a frame with front and rear walls, as well as a pair of side walls, and an endless loop of conveyor belt that serves as a bottom to the bucket. Lateral discharge provided through a gap between the endless loop and each of the side walls. A slide at a bottom of each side wall at least partially fills the gap between the side wall and the endless loop. The endless loop is selectively driven in the direction of either of the side walls by a drive means contained within the frame

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a non-provisional of US provisional application60/805,816, filed 26 Jun. 2006, the content of which is incorporated byreference as if fully recited herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an improved apparatus for the deliveryof aggregates, such as sand or gravel. In particular the inventionrelates to a bucket that can laterally unload aggregates from a varietyof heights and can be maneuvered into close-fitting spaces.

BACKGROUND OF THE ART

In such industries as landscaping, there is often the need to placeaggregates in close-fitting spaces around residential pools, narrowtrenches and the like. Conventional mechanized delivery methods foraggregates rely on large machinery, which cannot fit in suchclose-fitting spaces. Consequently, the transport and placement ofaggregates in such spaces is usually done manually. It is in any eventdesirable to deliver and unload aggregates in close-fitting spaces morerapidly and efficiently, as well as at different heights.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a lateral discharge bucket, which can beattached to small loaders, such as a BOBCAT® loader. The bucket hasgenerally the shape of a conventional bucket and is attached to theloader through an industry standard bucket attachment. The bucket iscontrolled from the loader's control panel through an industry standardhydraulic connection.

The bottom portion of the bucket consists of a conveyor-like dischargebelt, which can operate in either direction to discharge and unloadaggregates from inside the bucket through lateral openings on both sidesof the bucket. The bucket therefore can be maneuvered by the loader intoclose-fitting areas with one of the lateral openings oriented in thedesired direction. Once the discharge belt is put in motion, theaggregates can be unloaded easily, rapidly and efficiently. The deliveryof aggregates can also take place while the loader is in motion, such asfor example when filling a narrow trench. Another advantage of thepresent invention is that during the delivery operation the motion ofthe discharge belt loosens compacted aggregates, which has the advantageof “fluffing” or “aerating” the contents during discharge.

Further features of the invention will be described or will becomeapparent in the course of the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, embodimentsthereof will now be described in detail by way of example, withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is perspective view of the bucket;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the bucket mounted on a loader;

FIG. 3 is a photograph view of the drive wheel axle and sprocket inposition relative to the underside of the discharge belt;

FIG. 4 is a photograph view of an idler wheel and axle in positionrelative to the underside of the discharge belt;

FIGS. 5A and 5B are enlarged partial section front elevation and sideviews, respectively, of the hydraulic drive mechanism shown in the FIG.1 embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of a loader with the bucket mounted onit, showing different possible orientations of the bucket; and

FIG. 7 shows an enlarged perspective view of a portion of angled beam20, illustrating an optional plate 22.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to FIG. 1, the bucket 1 has a front wall 2, a rear wall 3and a pair of opposing sidewalls 4. Walls 2, 3 and 4 are sloped inwardto facilitate the sliding of aggregates toward a bottom of the bucket 1.Another advantage of the inward sloping of the walls is that lesspressure is applied to the bottom of the bucket 1 when aggregates arepresent in the bucket.

Referring again to FIG. 1, front wall 2 and rear wall 3 extenddownwardly beyond the bottom of bucket 1 to form a downwardly openrectangular-like frame which houses and supports the discharge conveyorbelt mechanism 5 and its driving mechanism described below. As the frameis open at the bottom, it allows for any trapped aggregates inside thebelt mechanism to be easily ejected.

Discharge belt 5 is made of a rubber material and effectively forms thebottom of the bucket 1. The surface of the belt will usually have raisedribs or elements formed integrally with the belt, providing a ribbedsurface for aggressive and effective movement of aggregates along thebelt 5 during the unloading operation. However, in some operation,particularly in handling unset concrete, I may be preferred to providethe belt without any raised surface features.

At the interface between the metal bucket elements and moving beltportions there are installed wearable plastic slides 6 to prevent wearof the metal bucket edges through abrasion when adjacent aggregates aremoved and discharged. These are installed in any preferable way and alsoserve to prevent or minimize the sideways trapping movement ofaggregates into the drive mechanism.

Wearplates 6 are attached at the bottom of sidewalls 4 as shown,adjacent to the area of belt movement. Wearplates 6 are of anappropriate width and overhang the adjacent covered edges of bucket 1.In this way sidewalls 4 are protected from the abrasive wear produced bycontact with aggregates.

In some embodiments, an angled beam 20, especially a piece of “L” bar,may be positioned above the top surface of the conveyor belt 5 insidethe bucket 1. The angled beam may be removably inserted, so that it isused when useful for the material being operated upon and removed whenit is not useful. In either case, the angled beam 20 spans the distancebetween the sidewalls 4, preferably slightly above the wearplates 6. Theangled beam 20 runs across the bucket with its longitudinal axis runningparallel to the direction of travel of the conveyor belt 5. As furthershown in FIG. 7, the angled beam 20 may be provided, on one or botharms, with an adjustable plate 22 that allows a gap between the bottomof the beam and the conveyor belt to be adjustably set.

A further optional feature shown in FIG. 1 is a scraping or doctor blade30, positioned transverse to the endless loop of conveyor belt 5,especially below the turning point of the loop. When the bucket 1 isused to deliver a material such as unset concrete, this blade is usefulin cleaning excess material off of the belt 5.

Referring to FIG. 2, a front view of the bucket 1 is shown mounted on aloader. There is a gap between the sidewalls 4 and the conveyor beltthrough which material may be ejected. Material is ejected when theconveyor belt 5 is rotated and idler wheels 11 attached to idler wheelaxles 12 are rotating. The wheels may be rotated in either direction,and therefore material may be ejected out of either side of the bucket1.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the drive wheel 7 is shown comprising fourdrive sprockets 8 fixedly secured to drive wheel axle 9. Drive wheelaxle 9 is rotationally placed in motion by the hydraulic drive motordescribed infra with reference to FIGS. 5A and 5B, and can rotate ineither longitudinal direction. Drive axle 9 is rotationally and securelyattached within the open bottom frame element described above.

The underside of the discharge belt at 5 comprises four rows ofprotrusions 10, hereafter called drive knobs, horizontally aligned alongthe width of the belt 5, to be engaged by the four sprockets 8 of thedrive wheel 7. As each successive row of sprockets rotationally engagesthe drive knobs, movement of the belt, which is supported by the idlerwheels (described in more detail below), is achieved. In this manner thedrive wheel 7 is able to place the discharge belt 5 in motion in eitherdirection depending on the rotational direction of drive axle 9, whichis signaled and controlled by the hydraulic motor. The present drivesystem has the advantage of preventing slippage of the belt 5 whenpowered, as can happen in conventional conveyor belt systems utilizingrollers. One drive wheel 7 at one end of the bucket 1 is provided and issufficient to drive the discharge belt 5.

Referring to FIG. 4, idler wheels 11 are shown attached to axle 12, incontact with the underside of discharge belt 5. Idler wheels 11 supportthe discharge belt 5 and are not powered. Idler wheels 11 are set apartat a distance such that they are positioned immediately outside the twoexterior rows of drive knobs 10. This feature ensures that the dischargebelt is always aligned on the idler wheels, by preventing movementslippage of the belt to either side. Six sets of idler wheels 11 areprovided at equal distances along the width of the bucket 1, as can beseen in FIG. 2. The axles 12 are securely and rotationally attachedwithin the open frame described in paragraph 0014. The idler wheels 11are double ball bearing wheels for improved weight support.

Referring to FIGS. 5A and 5B the drive mechanism comprises hydraulicdrive motor 13, which is connected with standard hydraulic connectionsto the loader's hydraulic system. Drive motor 13 is operated through thestandard controls provided by the loader. Drive motor 13 operatessprocket 14, which rotates chain 15. Chain 15 in turn drives sprocket16, which is fixedly attached to the drive axle 9. Adjusting tensionwheel 17 controls the tension in chain 15. Adjusting the speed of thedrive motor 13 varies the speed of the discharge belt 5. In this way thevolume of aggregates discharged per unit of time can be varied. If aconstant discharge of aggregates is required the drive motor can befitted with a flow control valve to maintain the speed of the drivemotor 13 constant.

Referring now to FIG. 6 the bucket 1 is attached to loader 18 through astandard industry attachment 19. As can be seen in the diagram, inaddition to the above-described novel features, the bucket 1 can also bemanipulated to load the bucket in a conventional manner. Depending onthe required application the bucket can be raised to any elevation. Anexample of such an application is placing aggregate in elevated bins.

Due to its industry standard attachment and hydraulic connection, thelateral discharge bucket can be mounted on any existing loader. In oneembodiment, for example, the bucket can be attached to a telescopichandler for delivering and unloading aggregates to high elevationplaces, such as roofs.

Other advantages, which are inherent to the structure, are obvious toone skilled in the art. The embodiments are described hereinillustratively and are not meant to limit the scope of the invention asclaimed. Variations of the foregoing embodiments will be evident to aperson of ordinary skill and are intended by the inventor to beencompassed by the following claims.

1. A bucket for use in association with a loader, the bucket providingboth top and lateral discharge, the bucket comprising: a frame havingfront and rear walls and a pair of opposing side walls; an endless loopof conveyor belt, arranged such that a portion of the front and rearwalls, the side walls and a portion of the endless loop define thebucket, with the lateral discharge provided by a gap between the endlessloop and each of the opposing side walls; and a means for selectivelydriving the endless loop towards either of the opposing side walls. 2.The bucket of claim 1, wherein the driving means comprises a motorrotating a drive wheel axle with a drive wheel fixedly secured thereon.3. The bucket of claim 2, wherein said drive wheel comprises a pluralityof drive sprockets engaging drive knobs attached to an underside of saidendless loop.
 4. The bucket of claim 3, further comprising a pluralityof non-powered idler wheels in contact with an underside of the endlessloop, positioned immediately outside two exterior rows of drive knobs.5. The bucket of claim 2, wherein the drive wheel is located at one endof said endless loop.
 6. The bucket of claim 1, further comprising aplurality of flexible slides, at least one attached to the bottom ofeach of the side walls, said slides at least partially filling the gapbetween the side wall to which it is attached and said endless loop. 7.The bucket of claim 1, wherein said endless loop extends beyond each ofthe side walls.
 8. The bucket of claim 1, wherein the front wall and therear wall of said bucket frame extend downwardly beyond the bottom ofsaid endless loop.
 9. The bucket of claim 1, wherein the driving meansis controlled from a loader's control panel.
 10. The bucket of claim 1,wherein the side walls of said bucket frame are sloped inward.
 11. Thebucket of claim 9, wherein the front wall and the rear wall of saidbucket frame are sloped inward.
 12. The bucket of claim 1, furthercomprising: an angled beam, positioned above the conveyor belt andspanning from one side wall to the other.
 13. The bucket of claim 12,wherein: the angled beam is a “L”-beam, mounted in an “upside-down V”configuration.
 14. The bucket of claim 13, further comprising: a plate,adjustably positioned on an arm of the angled beam, for adjusting a gapbetween the angled beam and the conveyor belt.
 15. A bucket for use inassociation with a loader, the bucket providing both top and lateraldischarge, the bucket comprising: a frame having front and rear wallsand a pair of opposing side walls; an endless loop of conveyor belt,arranged in the frame such that a portion of the front and rear walls,the side walls and a portion of the endless loop define the bucket, withthe lateral discharge provided by a gap between the endless loop andeach of the opposing side walls, with a portion of the endless loopextending beyond each of the side walls; a flexible slide positioned ata bottom of each side wall, at least partially filling the gap betweenthe side wall and the endless loop; a means for selectively driving theendless loop towards either of the opposing side walls, comprising: adrive wheel mounted within the endless loop; a drive wheel axle, mountedto the frame and upon which drive wheel is fixedly mounted; and a motor,drivingly engaging the drive wheel axle in either direction of rotation;drive sprockets on the drive wheel; drive knobs on an underside of theendless loop that engage the drive sprockets; a plurality of non-poweredidler wheels mounted within the endless loop.
 16. The bucket of claim15, wherein the drive wheel is located at one end of said endless loop.17. The bucket of claim 15, wherein the front wall and the rear wall ofsaid bucket frame extend downwardly beyond the bottom of said endlessloop.
 18. A method for discharging material to a predetermined location,comprising the steps of: providing a loader with a bucket according toclaim 1; loading material into an open top area of the bucket with theendless loop of conveyor belt held in place by the selective drivingmeans; moving the loader to a position adjacent the predeterminedlocation; and actuating the selective drive means to discharge thematerial through the gap on the side wall of the bucket adjacent thepredetermined location.